Virginia field hockey duo pursues Olympic gold

Norm

When she returns to Charlottesville in mid-August with Virginia counterpart Paige Selenski, Michelle Vittese expects no special treatment from their Cavalier field hockey teammates or coaches.

Then again, it may be difficult for U.Va.’s players to look at Selenski and Vittese without a little awe and perhaps a dropped jaw or two if both of them are wearing shimmering medals around their necks.

An Olympic medal would be something nobody in Charlottesville has ever seen in connection to a U.Va. field hockey player. Selenski and Vittese are the only current or past Cavalier field hockey players ever to make the United States' Olympic team, but that doesn't mean they don't already have huge expectations.

"I think this Olympic Games is a really big toss-up," said Vittese, a native of Cherry Hill, N.J. "Every team is capable of almost anything. … I think a realistic expectation is to get on the podium anywhere — from first to third. I think anything would be incredible. Obviously, gold is the ultimate goal."

Selenski, Vittese and the U.S. open preliminary-round play Sunday against Germany, which is ranked third in the world.

Ranked 10th, the U.S. is in the same pool with Germany, second-ranked Argentina, sixth-ranked New Zealand, seventh-ranked Australia and 12th-ranked South Africa. The U.S. team is composed of 18 players, including three Virginia natives: Virginia Beach's Caroline Nichols, Midlothian's Shannon Taylor and Centreville's Claire Laubach.

The Netherlands, which is competing in a separate pool, is the world's top-ranked team. Preliminary-round play continues through Aug. 6, then semifinals begin Aug. 8 and the gold-medal round is Aug. 10.

Though both Selenski and Vittese have been involved with U.S. team play in youth and junior forms for much of the last decade, and have been members of the U.S. national team since 2010, the most convincing sign that both players were ready for Olympic competition may have come last October.

In the gold-medal round of the Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, the U.S. met Argentina, which was the world's top-ranked team at the time and had never lost a contest in the Pan Am Games since the sport was first included in the Games in 1987.

The U.S. came away with a 4-2 victory, led by a goal from Selenski in the 12th minute and a final goal in the 66th minute by Vittese that put the game away.

"That's when you realize me and Paige together are capable of competing at this level and having a huge impact on the team," Vittese said.

Both players had to wait until June to find out they'd made the Olympic team. By then, they were confident they'd be on the roster.

"I think even after being told you're going, it still doesn't even seem real, just because it's something you've worked for and wanted your whole life," said Selenski, who is from Shavertown, Pa. "Even when you finally know you're going, it's still the same thrill."

With international play consuming their lives, Selenski and Vittese were granted Olympic redshirts by the NCAA last year to live and train in California. They'll return to U.Va. in August for their senior seasons, and to wrap up two of the most decorated careers in program history.

Selenski, who is a striker for the U.S. team, is a three-time All-American and ranks third in career points (171) and goals (73) at U.Va. Vittese, who will play midfield in London, is a two-time All-American.

After reaching the NCAA semifinals in 2010, U.Va. struggled last season without Selenski and Vittese, finishing 8-12 and losing to Duke in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

"It was tough to watch (last season), especially for the seniors," Selenski said. "I don't think they felt abandoned, but it was tough for them. They understand it was a tough situation for us. They were all really supportive of us, but it's tough to leave them in our senior year. We could've been really good, too, last year … but I think the whole team understands this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

So much national-team experience has made Vittese wise to the international game, which she refers to as "completely different" from college competition because all the basic skills are perfectly executed and the pace of the game is intensified by "300" percent.

She vows to be more than ready to rejoin her U.Va. teammates and start preparing for another college season when she and Selenski are back in Charlottesville on Aug. 13.

"It's not time to celebrate," Vittese said. "It's time to buckle down even more for the next four months."

2012 London Olympics

WHEN: July 25-Aug. 12

OPENING CEREMONIES: 7:30 p.m. Friday on NBC (taped)

TV: NBC and its family of networks will broadcast live coverage of the games.

On Page 5: A breakdown of the Olympics, by event.

Special online coverage

Visit dailypress.com/olympics for complete coverage of the 2012 London Games, including photo galleries, videos and a medal counter. Also included:

• Kellie Wells uses consistency to remain calm before her first Olympics.

• T'erea Brown overcame a stomach virus to qualify for the London Games.